Question on Windows Vista Starter Edition
Last year I have read a lot of the success of Windows XP Starter Edition, in the same time I also have always questioned myself if it ever success?. It’s reminded me the first review (of the world) on XP Starter I wrote for couillon.be when Starter Thai version is launched (the content I wrote is totally gone including screenshots I took). The first version of XP Starter took place to launch in the Queen Sirikit Convention Center, Bangkok at COMMART 2004. For the record you may read Microsoft’s Announcement. The XP Starter available through a few number of manufacturer such as Acer. But the cheap machine with pre-installed Windows XP Starter had relatively short life and almost gone from the market. Only six months after launch I never seen it in any retail store or in the big IT trading center. What is the reason behind this? ever questioned?
(Photo from Microsoft’s web site - Click on image to enlarge)
Windows XP Starter is designed for the beginner with small budget, target on developing countries. The good things I could see after half hour of playing (in 2004) is:
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One machine with easy to use OS and cheap price. The price at that time is ranged from 10,000 - 20,000 Thai Baht (equiv to 227$ - 454$, Thai-US exchange rate of year 2004). I would buy this if I use it for word processing, visiting few web pages, play songs.. kind of simple use.
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Build for local. It come with local language interface. For this case Starter which available in Thailand come with Thai interface (Thai-lib), menus and everything else is in Thai. For the kid, young and adult beginner it is ideal computer to start.
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Great Help file and guide. If you take look closer to the Star icon on desktop, that is the place to start. I have been read it thoroughly and I must say it is the best Computer Handbook available on computer I ever seen - not comparing to those e-book. -
Performance is not bad due to the limitation of OS.
